Did part of the upper trail Friday with my 11yr old and the full lower trail on Sunday with my husband.

Northwest Forest Pass or America The Beautiful Pass required at upper trailhead only. Lower does not require the pass/fee. If you select directions from this trail listing, it will take you to the lower trailhead.

7 mile (or so) drive on up hill forest roads. Lost cell service a little before the forest road turn. Not hard to find, just a sharp left at the first intersection and then straight up to the trailhead. It’s rocky and washboarded in many areas but no major potholes. 2WD Civic made it up fine, but needs a serious bath now because it’s dusty and dirty! (Mild caution: some people can be less conscientious than others and fly down this road. The speed limit is 25, some of the corners are pretty sharp and tight, and there is a steep drop off, so please be careful and kind)

Trail is beautiful and shaded for about 1/3 of the way. Then, it becomes more rock and exposed so, sunscreen is advised right now. STRONG Bug spray is also needed if you go later in the day. Friday night was awful for bugs but Sunday was great and didn’t even need the spray.

Trail:

First 1/3 Shaded old-growth forest, some roots and rocks, one small downed tree

1/3 Rocky, might need to use you hands if you don’t have poles

1/3 Gravel/loose rock stairs (poles were so helpful going down, kept me from eating it a couple times)

Hikers:

Almost everyone was kind and courteous and most wore masks or kept their distance to pass.

Crowding:

Earlier and later are better. Parking at 8:30am was easy, only about 10 cars were already there. When we came down, people had turned it into a one lane road by parking all down the side. Many more people going up as we were coming down.

The wildflowers are gorgeous right now and on a clear day, you can see for miles on about 2/3 of the hike. Wow. Just wow.

Sadly, didn’t see any mountain goats. But it was beautiful and well worth the trip up! Saw Rainer in her glory, Adams, MSH and Hood way off in the distance.